Mark Kalch » exploration

Being uncomfortable

Mark Kalch — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:40:25 +0000

Life is pretty easy when you think about it. Wake up, eat breakfast, go to work, shuffle some papers, leave work, go to gym, head home, eat, watch tv, sleep, repeat. Maybe you go away on a weekend, somewhere nice, have a good time. Visit friends. All good fun. All very comfortable. But is there more? How do you make things better? More excitement, more adventure. You have to get uncomfortable. You must do things you don't want to do.

Hate your job? Find a new one. That means, having to spend hours, days, weeks searching. Going to interviews, getting rejected. Easier just to stay where you are right? Sure, it might be. But I wonder if after collecting your monthly pay cheque for 60 years you may wonder if perhaps you should have given it a shot. Maybe you could have handled a little less comfort after all.

Less comfort = positive growth

I dig my job, but it is not for everyone. It's unpredictable, frustrating and damn hard work, yet it puts a smile on my face. Each time I bang my head on my keyboard, look out over yet another range of mountains to climb or scout a bad rapid, I know that should I make it through to the other side I will be stronger and more powerful than ever before. Better equipped for the next challenge. It makes me want to run faster and seek out discomfort. Embrace it, not avoid it. How else will I grow?

Are you too comfortable? Is your life all mapped out till the day you die? Could you do with a little hardship? I think so.

18th Century Exploration

Mark Kalch — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 10:06:41 +0000

“Ambition leads me not only farther than any other man has been before me, but as far as I think it possible for man to go.”

Captain James Cook FRS RN

Cook (27 October 1728 – 14 February 1779) was an English explorer, navigator and cartographer who was a prominent figure in my early school education in Australia. From 1768 to 1779, he made three voyages to the Pacific Ocean during which he achieved the first European contact with the eastern coastline of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands as well as the first recorded circumnavigation of New Zealand. He was killed in Hawaii with a whack to the back of the head. The distances he covered and time away from home while undertaking exploration are extraordinary, particularly in the era during which he undertook them.

Map showing the three voyages of Captain James Cook, with the first in red, second in green, and third in blue. The route of Cook's crew following his death is shown as a dashed blue line.

Photo – Nur Abad

Mark Kalch — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:07:39 +0000

On the way to Bushehr, glad to get the hell out of Yasuj (for reasons I will reveal!) and came across a roadside stop doing a mean kebab. These chaps nearly flipped out with joy when they found out I was Australian and promptly invited me to join them for lunch, which I gladly accepted (after first refusing a number of times of course). I did have to refuse outright their offer of a lift unfortunately. Bummer!

Oh yes - I made it to Bushehr yesterday at about 1pm! Exhausted and absolutely stoked! Will get a post up asap. I fly to Tehran tomorrow. Internet time here is pricey. I think it's the Russians working on the nuclear reactor pushing the price up. Anyway, mission successful! Sweet! Aaaarghh!

The Cloak of Many Cares

Mark Kalch — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:06:54 +0000

Well, it's that time again - time for a bit of pain, hardship, frustration, fear, excitement, learning, exploration and adventure! I have made live my expedition mini-site (which is just a cool way to say I tacked on a few more pages to my website!). You can access these pages by clicking on the banner above or simply by clicking here.

I have purposely tried to keep things simple and this is a theme I am trying to extend across the whole journey. I will be posting on an expedition journal throughout my adventure, but I am putting a ban on Twitter! It can be a fantastic tool and I really enjoy following those that do use it while on expedition (Ed and Mark) but I want to keep alive some of the feeling (illusion?) of isolation and real adventure. Is this possible? I am unsure but I will give it a crack. It is not a stand on using modern tech on expeditions, just a personal feeling and choice. Please don't read too much into it.

You can follow my progress via the Location Map powered by Suunto X10. It will also display my post locations.

The Expedition Iran Gallery powered by Sony is where you will be able to view images and clips that I upload throughout my journey.

Please take a look at the companies who have partnered with me not just for my latest undertaking but have been gracious enough to provide ongoing support to my day to day activities. Easy to say, but I choose to partner these guys not because they said yes, but because they are industry leaders - their kit just works! Most importantly they provide an amazing degree of support to my endeavours that transcends product or money. They believe in me. Again I have kept things simple by limiting my relationships. This way I can improve my return to those that I have and concentrate on the task at hand - Expedition Iran!

I am still tweeking a few things, so any glaring errors please let me know or if you have any ideas on improvements please drop me a line, keeping in mind the keeping it simple ethos.